Is It Time to Start Shooting on Camcorders Again?

Gen Z photographers have embraced compact cameras for their nostalgic charm. Similarly, those bulky camcorders from the early 2000s are gearing up for a revival in 2025. It seems like camcorders are about to experience their point-and-shoot style comeback, leading to renewed interest in shooting on camcorder devices.

In her recent video, outdoor vlogger Ryan Stella is onto something with her recent Sony HDR-CX405 HD Handycam purchase. I can’t believe someone actually bought a camcorder in 2025. Ryan has some strong reasons why these old devices deserve another chance. It’s not about specs or video quality (spoiler: your smartphone can record better videos).

The Tactile Experience

For Ryan, using a camcorder feels much better than any smartphone, as shooting with a camcorder provides a tactile sensation unmatched by touchscreens. She expresses the joy of holding a real device, using the zoom levers, and pressing physical buttons. It’s similar to why Fujifilm fans love their manual controls. There’s something satisfying about it.

“It’s all about the feel,” she says, describing how these physical controls change the way you shoot. Instead of swiping on a touchscreen, you have buttons for everything, and zoom levers that respond to how hard you press.

It’s the same reason film photographers enjoy loading 35mm film and manually advancing frames. Sometimes, the process is more important than the result.

[Related Reading: DJI Osmo Pocket 3 is the Best-Selling “Camcorder” in 2025]

Slow Down and Shoot

This is where things get intriguing and a bit annoying at the same time. The HDR-CX405 takes a long 15 seconds to start up. By the time it’s ready, that perfect moment is often gone.

However, Ryan sees this as a feature, not a bug. Shooting on camcorder requires patience. When you finally capture something, it feels like a real achievement. You won’t pull out your phone for every little moment. This slower pace encourages you to think about what is truly worth filming.

Then there’s the process of using an SD card. Remember that? There are no quick uploads or mindless social media shares. You record, then wait, transfer the files, and edit them. It’s a slow way to create videos, but it seems that some creators are actually enjoying this method right now.

Image Quality: Worse is Better?

Let me tell you the apparent issue. Ryan says the difference between her iPhone videos and those of the camcorder is clear. The smartphone gives sharper images, but shooting on a camcorder brings unique flaws. The smartphone provides sharper images, better colors, more precise sound, and smoother stabilization. Meanwhile, the camcorder is full of problems. There’s color noise everywhere, details are soft and unclear, and the shaky video would make any modern creator wince. The HDR-CX405 falls short in every way.

But, I guess this is why younger creators like it. Those flaws aren’t mistakes; they create a unique style. It’s similar to the warm crackle of vinyl records or the grainy look of film. Sometimes, being perfectly imperfect is exactly what you want.

Final Thoughts

If you experienced the camcorder days, this trend might be hard to understand. I remember my teacher who taught video journalism using those bulky cameras, and I still have bad memories about it. However, I never used these gadgets, or I only remember them as a kid. I see them as something special.

It’s similar to why people in their 30s are drawn to film cameras. What’s unfamiliar feels exciting, and what’s old seems genuine. Even though I prefer my easy-to-use mirrorless camera, I can’t ignore the growing interest in this trend.

[Why I bought a camcorder in 2025]

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